Buggy-step.



No. 724,155; PATENTED MAR. 31, .1903. v

E. BESSE.

BUGGY STEP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 1903.

N0 MODEL scams Firms :0. wuo'raumm, wasnmnmn. n p,

UNITED STATE PATENT FFICE.

ELMER BESSE, OF STROUD, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

BUGGY-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 724,155, dated March31, 1903.

Application filed January 2, 1908. Serial No. 137,597. [No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELMER BESSE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stroud, in the county of Lincoln and Territory of Oklahoma,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buggy-Steps; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to carriage or buggy steps; and it consists inthe novel construction and arrangement of its parts, as hereinafterdescribed.

The object of the invention is to provide a step adapted to be swung upout of the Way when not in use, and consequently the said step in theshort turning of the vehicle cannot interfere with the spokes of thefront wheels or engage stationaryobjectssuch as rocks, trees, andshrubbery-on the ground while the vehicleis in motion, a simple andeffective means being provided for offering a sufficient amount offriction at the pivotal.

point'of the step ,to prevent the same from falling while the vehicle isin motion.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of thestep. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the step, showing it attached to thebody of the vehicle. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper end of thelower member of the step, showing the position of the pivotal point ofthe said member with relation to the center of the upper curved portionof said member.

The step consists of the member 1, having the lugs 2 2 extending in ahorizontal plane, said lugs being adapted to be secured to the underside of the body of the vehicle, said member also having the downwardly-exte'nding portion 3, having out in the front of its sides therecesses 4t 4 with curved edges, the

intermediate portion 5 separating the said recesses and forming atongue, to which the lower member is pivotally attached. The upper endof the lower member 6 is provided with the bifurcations 7 7, whichreceive between them the said tongue 5, the pivot 8 passing laterallythrough the said bifurcations 7 7 and the tongue 5, thus securing themembers together. When the lower member 6 is in position as shown inFig. 1, the rear edges of the members 1 and 6 come together at the point10, and thus the rearward movement of the said member 6 is limited. Themember 6 is provided with the step 11. The upper edges of thebifurcations 7 7 are made on the arc of a circle; but the perforationsreceiving the pivot 8 are set slightly behind the center of the aredescribed by the upper edges of the said bifurcations, and consequentlywhen the member 6 is swung up to the position as shown in Fig. 2 theforward portions of the upper edges of the bifurcations 7 will engagethe surfaces of the recesses 4, thereby ofiering sufficient friction tohold the said member 6 in an elevated position and preventing the samefrom dropping while the vehicle is moving overthe ground. The lower endof the member 1 being provided with the recesses 4 at, which receive thebifurcations 7 7, and the ends of the pivot 8 being flush with the sidesof the member 6, no projections are ofiered which might engage theclothing of persons using the step, and consequently accident from thiscause is avoided.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

A step'consisting of a member adapted to be attached to the body of avehicle, said member having a downwardly-extending por-v tion withrecesses cut in the forward edges in its lower end, and a projectingtongue intermediate of said recesses, said recesses having curved edges,a second member having at its lower end a step, and at its upper endbifurcations adapted to enter the recesses of the first said member andreceive between them said tongue, said bifurcations having their upperends made on'the arc of a circle, a

pivot passing through the said tongue and 9 the bifurcations behind thecenter of the arc of the'circle of the upper ends thereof, and securingthe members together, whereby when the lower member is swung up, theforward portions of the upper edges of the bi-- furcations will engagethe curved edges of the recesses and offer sufiicient friction to holdthe lower member in an elevated position against the jarring of thevehicle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER BESSE. Witnesses:

W. G. PARDOE, CHAS. MCLARTY.

